Columbia Lions (12-16 overall, 4-10 league)
Projected starting five:
So. G Grant Mullins
So. G Maodo Lo
Jr. G Steve Frankoski
Jr. F Alex Rosenberg
Jr. C Cory Osetkowski
Important departures:
G Brian Barbour (12.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.6 spg) and C Mark Cisco (8.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) are the two starters gone from last season’s team, along with key reserve John Daniels (2.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg).
Returning:
61.2 percent of scoring and 57.6 percent of rebounding
Additions:
Fr. F Jeff Coby
Fr. G Kendall Jackson
Fr. F-C Luke Petrasek
Fr. F Chris McComber
Fr. C Connor Voss
Schedule Highlights:
The Lions have nine home games in non-league play, and the road portion is not overwhelming. They play at Michigan State in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, before heading across the country to play three games in Portland. They also travel to Bucknell and play St. John’s in the Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival at the Barclays Center. The home slate is highlighted by visits from MAAC contender Manhattan and America East contender Stony Brook. Ivy League play has a tough opening after they start with Cornell at home, as the next five are on the road before they come home for four straight.
Projected finish and outlook:
A year after a promising start to what ended up being a disappointing season, the Lions will have a full-fledged youth movement in effect this season. They have just one senior to go with ten freshmen and sophomores, and with Barbour and Cisco being so important to last season’s team, in all the Lions are basically starting over. Mullins, Rosenberg, Frankoski and Lo are good building blocks, while Osetkowski will now get a bigger role along with freshman Conor Voss, a freshman big man. In particular, Osetkowski must emerge as he has the opportunity for a lot of consistent minutes and they need someone to produce inside. The big thing for this year is to see the freshmen and sophomores develop behind the more experienced players, and if that happens the Lions could position themselves for a run next year.
